- BYD's first 7-seat PHEV-SUV for New Zealand buyers.
- Up to 359kW and 152km EV range, depending on model.
- Luxuries for top Premium include massage seats front and rear.
The biggest Sealion of all is heading to New Zealand, but it's not as scary as it sounds. Sealion 8 is the name of BYD's super hybrid PHEV 7-seat family SUV, putting it atop a model family that also includes the Sealion 6 and Sealion 7.
Sealion 8 will come in three different versions, with a choice of 2WD or AWD and in Dynamic or Premium specifications. The Dynamic 2WD is $74,990 or $83,990 with AWD, while the flagship Premium AWD is $91,990.
White is the only colour that comes as standard, with an an extra $990 asked for black, grey or a green hue called Dark Aquamarine.
Orders are open now, with first NZ deliveries expected in March.
It's a genuinely large SUV, with an overall length of 5040mm - 150mm longer than a Toyota Highlander. The powertrain comprises a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine, with a plug-in battery of either 19kWh (2WD) or 35.6kWh (AWD) capacity, and a single or dual-motor setup. The AWD models with the larger battery charge faster, at up to 74kW DC compared to 40kW for the 2WD.
The 2WD makes a combined 205kW/315Nm, while the AWD peaks at 359kW/675Nm. The outtus are impressive, although the Sealion 8 tips the scales at 2315-2580kg. It's rated to tow 1.8 (2WD) or 2.0 tonnes (AWD).
EV range is 103km for the 2WD and 152km for the AWD, both quoted under the NEDC cycle (more lenient than the 3P-WLTP protcol specified for NZ). BYD claims around 1 litre/100km fuel consumption on more than 25% charge, or between 5.3-6.3l/100km with less than a quarter charge in the battery.
The aree numerous chassis changes between 2WD and AWD, including intelligent damping suspension for both versions of the AWD.
Equipment exclusive to the Premium AWD includes a 26-inch head-up display, exterior rearview mirror memory/auto-dip, heated steering wheel, leather upholstery, front-seat memory/massage, 2nd-row seat massage, upgraded 21-speaker sound system and mutli-colour ambient lighting.
“The arrival of the Sealion 8 marks a significant moment for BYD in New Zealand, providing Kiwi families with a spacious, safe, and technologically advanced PHEV seven-seat SUV that doesn’t compromise,” says Warren Willmot, general manager of BYD NZ.
"The Sealion 8 is a vehicle designed for real life – offering the practicality, comfort, safety and performance that NZers need, all with zero emissions and fuel consumption as low as 1 litre per 100km. It represents our continued commitment to driving the nation’s electrified future forward.”
